The world's largest opportunity & depot charge network: Amsterdam Schiphol Airport

Customer Case Study

The world's largest opportunity & depot charge network: Amsterdam Schiphol Airport

100 Buses
13 MW
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, the Netherlands
9 Months
Roof-mounted Pantograph

©VOR-J. Bollwein, 2022.

Challenge

To contribute to an emission-free society, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport committed to becoming one of the most sustainable airports in the world. With the experience Connexxion/Transdev had gained in Eindhoven with an e-bus fleet of 43 busses, the local public transport authority was confident to take up the new challenge. It would require creating the largest fast-charging network in the world

A total of 100 e-busses were to be deployed to drive on six lines surrounding the airport.  To do that, a large-scale infrastructure of 13 MW had to be implemented in 4 different locations simultaneously. Another essential factor to tackle was to ensure the highest up-time of the e-fleet since the busses would be operating on the routes 24/7.

Solution

All 100 all-electric busses were deployed to drive in a 24/7 operation in the surroundings of the airport. This ambitious goal required a 13 MW charging solution, which Heliox delivered. The charging infrastructure combined opportunity and depot charging that ensure high up-times. Following the principles of the Bus-Up model, the solution used a pantograph mounted on the bus, proven to be a reliable and robust design. It also included remote management through a back-office system to ensure maximum availability and high operation time. The order comprised 23 Heliox OC 450 kW chargers placed in depots and 2 locations en route. Besides that, 84 Heliox FAST DC dual 30 kW chargers were placed in 2 depots for overnight charging. Additionally, Heliox also provided 2 Heliox FAST DC 25 kW mobile chargers for service and maintenance for the depots.

Results
97% Efficiency
Highest Uptime
Zero Emissions
Back Office Systems
Support Services
Industry's Quietest

This project is an excellent example that Heliox's technology is ready to support large-scale global projects. With the commissioning and installation time of less than a year, the 100 e-bus fleet was ready to start full operation at the Schiphol airport area. Sustainability is our competitive advantage.

Download our electric truck report
Project Description

Heliox and TU/e ​​aim to develop an integrated solution that makes charging heavy electric vehicles accessible without negative consequences for local electricity networks. Together, we want to achieve this by developing and demonstrating a new, multiple and dynamic charging system for heavy electric vehicles that is equipped with software-controlled stabilization to absorb disturbances on the local energy grid.

The intended system will consist of a dynamically configurable charging system based on modules that can be connected in parallel, each with three 60 kW outputs. With this they want to be able to distribute the loading capacity dynamically over several vehicles. The charging system can therefore be used for opportunity charging up to 360 kW for a single vehicle as well as for regular charging of several vehicles.

In addition, smart software and a microcontroller board are being developed. The converter of the charging system can be used via this software to compensate for grid disturbances. The disturbances are neutralized via a low impedance path. This allows losses on the grid to be converted into usable energy, while improving the voltage quality of the grid. In fact, the system completely takes over the function of current power filters on the basis of smart control.

To contribute to an emission-free society, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport committed to becoming one of the most sustainable airports in the world. With the experience Connexxion/Transdev had gained in Eindhoven with an e-bus fleet of 43 busses, the local public transport authority was confident to take up the new challenge. It would require creating the largest fast-charging network in the world

A total of 100 e-busses were to be deployed to drive on six lines surrounding the airport.  To do that, a large-scale infrastructure of 13 MW had to be implemented in 4 different locations simultaneously. Another essential factor to tackle was to ensure the highest up-time of the e-fleet since the busses would be operating on the routes 24/7.

All 100 all-electric busses were deployed to drive in a 24/7 operation in the surroundings of the airport. This ambitious goal required a 13 MW charging solution, which Heliox delivered. The charging infrastructure combined opportunity and depot charging that ensure high up-times. Following the principles of the Bus-Up model, the solution used a pantograph mounted on the bus, proven to be a reliable and robust design. It also included remote management through a back-office system to ensure maximum availability and high operation time. The order comprised 23 Heliox OC 450 kW chargers placed in depots and 2 locations en route. Besides that, 84 Heliox FAST DC dual 30 kW chargers were placed in 2 depots for overnight charging. Additionally, Heliox also provided 2 Heliox FAST DC 25 kW mobile chargers for service and maintenance for the depots.

97% Efficiency
Highest Uptime
Zero Emissions
Back Office Systems
Support Services
Industry's Quietest

This project is an excellent example that Heliox's technology is ready to support large-scale global projects. With the commissioning and installation time of less than a year, the 100 e-bus fleet was ready to start full operation at the Schiphol airport area. Sustainability is our competitive advantage.

Download our electric truck report